Season 15 of the Voice Comes to a Controversial End
December 19, 2018
Last night was the 15th season finale of The Voice and there’s a lot to unpack.
The six week, 26-day competition had a lot of buzzing topics from beginning to end. In the fourth week, there was major backlash behind the elimination of DeAndre Nico. Adam Levine, Nico’s team captain, made comments regarding the public vote between Nico and a fellow team member Reagan Strange.
Despite Strange being unable to perform, Levine suggested that viewers vote for Reagan over DeAndre. When the results came in DeAndre was eliminated and the many viewers blamed Levine. The following week Reagan was also eliminated, and again Levine was blamed.
The finale. However, held more hot-button topics than any week before that. During the finale performances, pop singer Halsey performed her single “Without Me.” The subject matter of the song didn’t appear to receive much criticism, but on the other hand, the choreography received a lot of heat. Halsey and her backup dancer, Jade Chynoweth, were both dressed in white shorts and a white crop top.
Most of the criticism came from a shared embrace shown as part of the choreography which some viewed as inappropriate and not suitable for a show marketed towards young viewers.
One Twitter user said, “What the… @NBCTheVoice?!?! This performance by Halsey is totally not appropriate for the #VoiceFinale Good Lord. Know your audience. Kennedy just turned 14. Who do you think is watching? Trashy. You’re better than this.”
Controversy wasn’t contained to the performances, however. The Voice announced Chevel Shepherd as the winner, and viewers took to social media to air their disagreement.
“#TheVoice [C]hevel you good, and I’m gonna let you finish, but Kirk or Kennedy was the actual winners,” said one Twitter user.
Kirk Jay and Kennedy Holmes came in third and fourth place, respectively.